ACC Approves Major Bureaucratic Reshuffle; Senior IAS and IDAS Officers Assigned Key Roles in NDMA, UIDAI, MeitY, NIC, and Consumer Affairs
In a significant move aimed at strengthening governance across critical ministries and institutions, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved a high-level administrative reshuffle involving five senior officers. The appointments, largely at the Additional Secretary level, reflect the Centre’s strategy of placing experienced bureaucrats in leadership positions to enhance efficiency, coordination, and policy execution.
Key Appointments Cleared by ACC
The reshuffle includes the following major transitions:
Manish Bhardwaj (IAS: 1997, Gujarat cadre) has been appointed as Adviser in the Inter-State Council Secretariat under the Ministry of Home Affairs. He was previously serving as Secretary in the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
Saurabh Vijay (IAS: 1998, Maharashtra cadre) has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). He was serving in the Government of Maharashtra.
Nilkanth S. Avhad (IAS: 1999, Punjab cadre) has been appointed as Secretary of the NDMA, succeeding Manish Bhardwaj. He was serving in the Government of Punjab.
Priyank Bharti (IAS: 2001, Punjab cadre) has been appointed as Additional Secretary in MeitY and will also hold additional charge as Director General of the National Informatics Centre (NIC). He was serving in the Punjab cadre.
Richa Misra (IDAS: 1996) has been appointed as Additional Secretary in the Department of Consumer Affairs under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. She is currently serving in her cadre.
Focus on Officers from State Cadres
A notable aspect of this reshuffle is that four out of the five officers were serving in their respective state cadres prior to their central appointments. This reflects the Centre’s reliance on seasoned field administrators who bring practical governance experience to national-level policymaking.
The Punjab cadre features prominently in this reshuffle, with multiple officers being assigned strategic roles in technology and disaster management sectors.
Key Ministries and Institutions Impacted
The reshuffle impacts several crucial institutions and ministries, including:
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
National Informatics Centre (NIC)
Department of Consumer Affairs
These changes are expected to strengthen governance in areas such as disaster management, digital infrastructure, e-governance, and consumer protection.
Broader Significance
The appointments approved by the ACC highlight the government’s targeted effort to place experienced officers in roles that demand both administrative acumen and technical expertise. By drawing on officers with a mix of state-level and central experience, the reshuffle is expected to:
Improve policy execution across ministries.
Enhance coordination between central and state governments.
Strengthen institutional efficiency in disaster management, digital governance, and consumer affairs.
The latest reshuffle approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet underscores the government’s commitment to reinforcing leadership in critical administrative sectors. With seasoned officers now at the helm of institutions like NDMA, UIDAI, MeitY, NIC, and Consumer Affairs, the move is expected to bolster governance, improve service delivery, and ensure greater resilience in India’s administrative framework.
